Ex US NSA Bolton pleads guilty to violating Espionage Act
Washington DC, June 27
Former US National Security Advisor John R Bolton on Friday pleaded guilty to violating the Espionage Act, US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced.
The National Security Division, US Department of Justice, stated that Bolton sent top secret information on personal account allegedly hacked by Iranians.
In a post on X, the National Security Division stated, "Former U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton, II PLEADS GUILTY to Violating the Espionage Act: Sent Top Secret Information on Personal Account Allegedly Hacked by Iranians."
"John Bolton held a position of extraordinary public trust as the country's top National Security Advisor, and he betrayed that trust, jeopardizing our nation's security," said Hayden O'Byrne, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division.
"Today's resolution ought to send a message to other public officials whom the public has entrusted with classified, national defense information. If you willfully mishandle these state secrets, the Department of Justice, led by the National Security Division, will investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
Bolton, a former top adviser to President Trump who became one of his most outspoken critics, pleaded guilty on Friday in a case that could send him to prison for up to five years, The New York Times reported.
Bolton, appearing in Federal District Court in Maryland, admitted to a single charge of illegal retention of classified information over notes he compiled for a book that excoriated Mr. Trump.
"I'm sorry for it," he told Judge Theodore Chuang, who set a sentencing date for October 28.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Bolton must also pay a fine of USD 2.25 million and will forfeit his federal pension. Court documents suggest he is likely to receive close to the maximum sentence under federal guideline calculations that the judge could still alter, as per New York Times.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who worked in DC, I can tell you Bolton was always a controversial figure. But this is a big deal - the Espionage Act is no joke, and the fact that he sent top secret info through a personal account that might have been hacked by Iran? That's a massive security breach, India should take note.
Bolton ji, you had one job - protect national security. Writing a book about your time in the White House is one thing, but leaking classified info on a personal account? That's irresponsible. The US is right to make an example of him. Our politicians should learn from this accountability.
This is a serious matter, but let's be honest - Bolton was a hawk who advocated for regime change. Now he's facing consequences for his own actions. The fact that he's losing his pension and paying a huge fine shows no one is above the law in America. Wish we had similar accountability in India.
I've been following this case closely. The irony is not lost on me - the man who called for war with Iran allegedly had his personal account hacked by Iranians. 🤔 The US intelligence community must be doing some serious damage assessment right now. This is a reminder that even former officials need to follow protocols.
Five years in prison + $2.25 million fine + losing pension... that's a steep price for writing a book. But national security is national security, no excuses. The US DOJ means business. India should strengthen our own laws to prevent similar incidents. We can't afford to be lax in this digital age.
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